Container closure



July 19,l l1938. J, E MASBACH Er AL 2,123,907

CONTAINER CLOSURE Filed AprillO, 1957 M INVENTORS BY @wf/- @4g/mf AWORNEY.

Patented July 19, 193s PATENT OFFICE CONTAINER CLOSURE Jean E.- Masbach, New York, and Anthony F.

' Driscoll, Middle Village, Long Island, N. Y.

Application April l0, 1937, Serial No. 136,140

10 Claims.

This invention relates to container closures for cans, bottles and other containers or receptacles and has for its general object and purpose to simplify and improve the construction disclosed in our pending application for patent Ser. No. 114,306, led Dec. 5, 1936.

Generically considered, it is the object of our present invention to provide means. in a closure of that type in which the closure member has limited rotative movement in opposite directions to its open and closed positions, for effecting a sealing contact between the opposite wall surfaces of the closure and the container which `are provided with dispensing openings, whereby the possible entrance of the container contents between such surfaces, in both the open and closed positions of the closure member, is eifectually prevented.

A more particular object of the invention is to provide coacting cam means on'the closure and the container for moving the closure axially in reverse directions at the opposite ends of its rotative .movement so that the sealing contact is first broken and then re-established.

Another object of ourlinvention resides in the provision of a compressible liner carried by the closure member and coacting means on the closure member and container which' operates v in the rotation of the container to its closed position to subject the liner to'a high degree of compression and effect an air-tight seal of the dispensing opening in the container wall, and, in the movement of the closure to open position, to also compress said liner Vagainst the surface of the container wall to a suicient extent to r preclude the passage of the liquid or other contents of the container, at the edges of the dispensing opening, between said wall and the liner.

It is also the purpose of our present improvements to provide a closure device, as above characterized, which is simple and inexpensive in its construction and may be readily applied to cans, bottles or other containers, of metal, glass or other materials, without necessitating any material departures from standard practice in the manufacture of such containers.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the improved container closure, and in the form, construction and relative simple and practical embodiment of the invention and in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Fig. l is a top plan view partly in section, the

(Cl. 22h-64) closure member being shown in its closed position.

member in its open position.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. l.

Fig. 4 is a similar view, the container neck being shown in elevation and the closure mem-l ber at an intermediate point in its rotative movement with respect thereto, and

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

For the purpose of illustration, in the accompanying drawing we have showna part of a can or other container, as indicated at 5. This container may either be of uniform diameter throughout its length, or `it may be provided at one end with a reduced cylindrical neck 6, as is the customary practice in the manufacture of cans or collapsible tubes for tooth paste and like commodities. This neck 6 may be formed either as an integral part of the end wall of the container or as a separate element suitably fixed to the container wall.

The top wall 1 of the container or of the-neck 6, is provided with a dispensing opening 8 of suitable shape and dimensions. Below this top wall, and at diametrically opposite sides, the cylindrical wall ofthe container neck is formed with the grooves 9. 'I'he major intermediate portion of each groove extends in parallel relation to the top wall 1.- One end I of each groove is inclined downwardly. 'I'he other end Il, of each groove, which is opposed to the end III of the other groove, is also inclined downwardly lbut at a less acute angle than the end portion I0 o'f the groove. The purpose of this diierence in the degree of inclination of the opposite ends of the grooves 9 will be subsequently explained.

In the illustrated embodiment of our invention, the closure member consists of a sheet metal cap having a top wall I2 and an annular skirt or ange I3. 'This skirt or ange at diametrically opposite sides thereof and adjacent to its free edge is formed with concavo-convex indentations I4, having a convex radius substantially equal to the radius of the respective grooves 9 in which said indentations are engaged. The ange I3 is sufciently resilient so that itvwill readily expand when forced downwardly upon the neck 6, and upon resuming its normal position, the internal projections formed by the indentations I4 will seat in the respective grooves 9.

The top wall I2 of the closure member is provided with a dispensing opening I which, preferably, substantially conforms in shape and dimensions to the opening 8in the top wall 1 of the container. 'I'he closure member is further provided with a liner disk I6 oi! cork or other com- Fig. 2 is a top plan view showing the closure v l 2 l presslble material which is adhesively or otherwise ilxed to the underside oi the top wall I2 of said .closure member. This liner disk also has an opening I1 in registration with the opening Il in the top wall of the closure member. 'I'he thickness of this linendisk'is accurately predetermined with referenceto the degree of inclination of the cam ends I0 and II of the grooves 9, in order that an eiiective sealing action may be obtained in the manner which will now be described.

As will be seen from reference to Fig. 4 of the drawing, when the parts i4 of the skirt wall I3 of the closure member are positioned in the horizontal portions of the grooves 9, the top of the closure member or its liner I6 is spaced above and out of'contact with the top wall `I of the container. If the closure member is now rotated in a clock-wise direction, 4as it approaches the limit of such movement, the projections ifi move into the downwardly inclined ends IU of the respective grooves. The camming action, which thus ensues, results in a downward vertical movement of the closure member upon the wall or neck of the container so that in the final closed position of said member as seen in Fig. l, a heavy compressing pressure is applied to the liner I6, and as shown in Fig. 3, an air-tight seal of the dispensing opening 8 in the top wall I of the cony tainer is obtained. It is, of course, understood that in all cases the use of such a compressible liner may not be necessary. In such instances, the top wall of the closure, member would have sealing contact with the top wall of the container.

When the closure member is moved from the closed position of Fig. l to the open position of Fig, 2, it is given a counter-clockwise rotation. Initially, the projections I4 ride upwardly out of the cam ends I0 of the grooves 9, thus releasing the sealing pressure of the liner or the top of the closure member with the top wall of the container. Thus a minimum of frictional resistance is oifered to the continued turning movement of the closure member as the projections I4 move through the horizontal sections of the grooves 9.

As the closure member approaches the end of its opening movement, the projections I4 will ride downwardly in cam ends Il of the respective 'Thus as the opening I5 of the closure member is brought into registration with the dispensing opening 8 in the top wall of the container, said closure member is moved vertically downward and the liner I6 is again compressed against the top wall of the container. Owing to the fact that the ends II of the groove are less sharply inclined than the ends I0 thereof, the liner will be subjected to a. somewhat less degree of compression than when the closure member is moved to its closed position. However, such contact between the liner and the top wall of the container is suillcient to insure an eiective sealing action which will prevent the entrance of the contents of the `container between the opposed surfaces of the liner and the container wall when such contents are dispensed or decanted from the container through the registering openings 8 and I5. VThe importance of this feature may be readily appreciated, especially in the application of our invention to-containers for paste or liquid commodities.

In the use of our invention in connection with the packaging of commodities under vacuum, the opening Il in the top wall of the container will be closed at the factory by an easily frangible or removable thin metal sheet. When the purchaser or consumer first turns the closure member to the open position of Fig. 2, this thin metal sheet may then be easily broken out or forced inwardly within the neck of the container.

Of course, it will be apparent that ii desired the arrangement of camA grooves 9 and projections I4 can be reversed, and such grooves provided on the skirt or flange of the closure member while the projections are formed on the container wall. In the use of the device in connection with bottles or other glass containers, the parts 6 and I3 may rst be assembled as a unit, and the part 6 then applied to the neck wall of the bottle and. permanently ilxed thereto in any desired manner. Also, in such application of our invention, the part 6 may be dispensed with and the cam grooves or ribs-formed or moulded directly upon the neck wall of the bottle. forengagement by the projections upon the flange of the closure member, as indicated in our pending application above referred to. Also, as disclosed in said application,

the neck wall of the bottle may be internally formed with longitudinally extending ribs or serrations, which will facilitate the free flow of the liquid from the bottle, and also prevent the undetected fraudulent use of the bottle by the insertion of a; cork or similar closure member therein after our novel type of closure device has been removed. It will, of course, further be 'understood, that in such application of our device to bottles, when the inner andouter metallic members are used as shown in the accompanying drawing, an annular sealing washer may be interposed\between the wall l of the inner member and the end edge of the bottle neck. However, said inner member may also be provided with a liner disk having a portion to be broken out in registration with the opening 8, substantially as shown in the pending application.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, it is believed that the construction, manner of opera.- tion and several advantages of our present invention will be clearly understood. It will be seen that we have materially simplified the prior construction and provided a very simple and effective closure means for various types of containers used in vending liquids, semi-liquids or powdered commodities and whereby a reliable sealing action is obtained in both the open and closed positions of the closure member. Therefore we provide a device which not only eiectually'seals the dispensing opening after each use thereof, .but also provides a sealing contact between opposed sur.- faces of the closure member and container wall in the pouring or decanting `of the contents, so as to prevent the ilw or spread of the said contents between said surfaces, and thus maintain the device in'a sanitary condition. Also by preventing the accumulation of the container contents upon the parts of the closure resistance to the free operation of the closure is obviated.

In the accompanying drawing we have shown l an illustrative example of ourinvention which in actual practice has been found very satisfactory. Nevertheless, it is to be understood that the novel features of our present disclosure might also be exemplified inv numerous alternative structural forms. Accordingly we reserve the privilege of resorting to all such legitimate changes inthe form, construction and relative arrangement of the several parts which may be fairly incorporated within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

amaca? t ing said closure member at an angle with respectv to -the direction of closing or opening manual movement of said member, to cause a sealing contact of said part with the container wall at the edges of said opening in both the opened and closed positions of said member.

2. In combination with a container having a wall provided with a dispensing opening, a rotatably mounted closure member having a part for sealing contact with said wall, and means auto matically operating in the rotation of said closure member in each direction to impart an axial movement to said member and produce sealing contact between said part and the container wall at the edges of said opening in both the open and closed positions of said closure member.

3. In combination with a container having a wall provided with a dispensing opening, a rotatable closurel member havingy a part opposed to said wall for sealing contact therewith, said part having an opening to register with said dispensing opening, and coacting cam means on said closure and the container automatically operating in the rotation of said member in opposite directions to its open and closed positions, to imp art an axial movement to said closure member and eiect a sealing contact of said part of the closure member with' the container wall at the edges of said dispensing opening.

4. In combination with a container having a top wall provided with a dispensing opening, a rotatable closure member having a part opposed to said top wall and a depending skirt or ange, said part having anopening therein to register with said dispensing opening and a surface adapted for sealing contact with said top wall of the container, and coacting means on said skirt and the container operating to maintain sealing contact between said surface and the container wall at the edges of the dispensing opening, in both the open and closed positions oi said closure member and to impart an axial movement to said member in its initial rotative movement from such open and closed positions to release said sealing contact and permit free rotation of the closure member.

5. In combination with a container having a cylindrical side wall and a top wall provided with a dispensing opening, a closure member having a part opposed to sf 'd top wall and a depending skirt surrounding said cylindrical wall,

said part having an opening therein to register with the dispensing opening and having a surface for sealing contact with said top wall, and said skirt and the cylindrical wall having coacting grooves and projections respectively, limiting rotative movement of said member to its open and closed positions, and each of the grooves having terminal cam portions coacting with the projections to impart an axial movement to said closure member and effect a sealing contact oi' said surface with the top wall of the container at the edges of the dispensing opening, in both the open and closed positions of said closure member.

6. A closure device for containers comprising a cylindrical member having a top wall provided with a dispensing opening, a closure member having a top wall and a depending skirt surrounding said cylindrical wall, said top wail of the closure member having a compressible'liner and said liner and wall being provided with openings therein to register with said dispensing opening, said cylindrical wail on opposite sides thereof being provided with circumferentially extending grooves and said skirt of the closure member having .projections movable in said grooves, and each of said grooves having terminal cam portions cooperating with said projections in the rotation of the vclosure member, to impart an axial movement thereto and eiect a sealing contact between said compressible liner and said top wall at the edges of the dispensing opening therein, in both the 'open and closed positions of said closure member.

7. in combination with a container having a wall provided with a dispensing opening, sealing means for said opening, a closure member manually Vadjustable upon said container and having an opening to register with said dispensing opening, and said member and the container having coacting cam means operating in the movement of said member to its open and closed .positions to axially move said member and cause a sealing contact of said sealing means with' the container wall at the edges of the said dispensing opening.

8. In combination with a container having a Wall provided with a dispensing opening, a closure member having a part for sealing contact with the container wall at the edges of said opening in both the open' and closed positions of said closure member, and coacting means on the closure member and container, constructed and arranged to move said member at an angle with respect to the direction of its opening and closing movements and to cause a greater sealing pressure of said part with the container wall in the closed position of said member than in the open position thereof.

9. In combination with a container having a wall provided with a dispensing opening, a rotatably mounted closure member having a part for sealing contact with said wall in both the open yand closed positions of said member, and coacting cam means on said member and the container to impart an axial movement to said member in the rotation thereof in each direction and engage said sealing part with the container wall, said cam means being arrangedto cause a relatively greater axial movement when said member is rotated to closed position and thereby obtain a greater sealing pressure of said part with the container wall than in the open position of said closure member.

10. A container having a top wall provided with a dispensing opening, a rotatable closure member having a part for sealing contact with said wall and provided with an opening to register with said dispensing opening, and coacting parts on the container and said member to limit rotation of said member in reverse directions to its open and closed positions, and operating in the initial movement oi' the closure member in each direction to axially move said member upwardly and position said sealing part outof contact with the top wall oi' the container and to move said member downwardly at the end of its rotative JEAN n. mamon. ANTHONY F. Darscom 

